LockBit takedown architect gets New Year award from King Charles

A senior British crimefighter has been awarded one of the country's highest tributes for public service for his role in the 2024 LockBit ransomware takedown.

The National Crime Agency's (NCA) Gavin Webb was among the names on the King's most recent New Year Honours list for 2026. Webb was given an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award.

OBEs are given to individuals with distinguished regional or countrywide achievements in any field. The rank is only two rungs down from a knighthood or damehood.

The NCA told The Register that Webb, 51, held a strategic coordinating role in Operation Cronos, described as the UK lead on the NCA-spearheaded international law enforcement operation responsible for disrupting LockBit.

Webb is a police officer by trade, not a techie, and did not have a hands-on-keyboard impact as Cronos infiltrated LockBit's website, turning Dmitry Khoroshev's infrastructure ...